Rice Cakes in Nairobi

Breifly in Nairobi with Zahara and Staci.  I went to the "healthfood" store to buy a Dr. Pepper (see earlier post) but none to be found...but I did find these rice cakes!  Will be so...oooo...oooo good!  Went to see Harry Potter with Staci (since she is a big fan) and took hot showers at the hotel!  More soon.

More random stuff -- part 2?

As usual, I don't have much to say.  But, I will be taking a couple of trips in August, so maybe there will be more to tell then.  So, my only post today is a very short comment from one of my students (I think my sisters will especially like this!) and another list of songs heard this past weekend on Capitol FM.

Comment by Edison Tsuma
I was chatting with my Form 4 class ("seniors") and as usual they are very funny.  When I entered the room in which they were, one of the students said "Here's a seat for you madame" and I replied "That's okay, I don't need to sit".  Then, this ensuing conversation with Edison (who is one of the brightest and also funniest in the class):
Edison:  You need to sit because you are old. [Not sure exactly what he meant]
Rebecca:  No, I'm still VERY young! [emphasis on very]
Edison:  Madame, I think you are incorrectly using the word very!
Rebecca:  < .....laughing out loud !!! >

It's just like being at home with my nephews....never ending opportunities to make me laugh!

Short List of Songs
The only reason I keep making these lists is because it still makes me wonder how these particular songs get chosen for this "radio session" on Sunday mornings:

• Dream, Dream, Dream -- Everly Brothers
• You Are Everything (and everything is you) - Stylistics
• Don't Stop Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
• Cupid - Spinners [I used to sing along with this one walking down rural Dinwiddie road with old battery powered small radio.....yes, before even walkmans!!]
• California Dreaming - Mommas and Poppas [I think]
• Bend Me, Shake Me, Anyway You Want Me -- not sure who sings this; sounds kind of like Monkees but it's not
• Goldfinger -  yes, the theme to James Bond
• Live and Let Die - The Beatles!

Random stuff after reading < again > CS Lewis

I've read many of CS Lewis' books that are mainly thought of as in the genre of Christian apologetics.  Have recently re-read The Screwtape Letters which I've read many times.  The basic idea is that there is a "junior devil" who is in the world trying to convert this guy away from Christianity and we are reading the letters written to him from his Uncle Screwtape who is a "senior devil" and is giving him advice on how to steer people away from "the Enemy" (God).  Thus, simply posting two snippets (among many) that I found worth posting:

•  Prosperity < as defined in the earthly sense > knits a man to the world.  He feels that he is "finding his place in it" while really it (the world) is finding its place in him.

• To prevent them < the humans > from turning to God.....turn their gaze away from Him towards themselves.  Keep them watching their own minds and trying to produce feelings there by the action of their own will. When they mean to ask Him for charity, let them instead start trying to manufacture charitable feelings for themselves.  When they mean to pray for courage, let them really be trying to feel brave. 

Listening to the Radio in Marereni, Kenya

On early Sunday mornings, I usually listen to this radio station that plays "oldies" on Sunday morning.  I'm not sure who picks these songs, but it is always an anticipation to hear the playlist.  [Yes - there isn't much for me to do here, so this is one of the exciting things to do in Marereni!]  To give you a taste...this is a partial list of the songs from last Sunday: 

• What's New Pussycat? -- Tom Jones
• Two out of three ain't bad -- Meatloaf (I don't think that is the actual title)
• (So) Happy Together - The Turtles
• You are the sunshine of my life - Stevie Wonder (that's a classic!)
• Say, Say, Say - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (remember that video??)
• We Are the World! -- (Of course, that must be played!  But, still always makes me think of the Saturday Night Live parody....so good!)

On Sunday nights from 9 - 11 as I am going to sleep, the same station plays classical music (sometimes interspersed with musicals...e.g. West Side Story). Sunday is a good radio listening day!  Only drawback is that it requires a lot of battery use.  Awwwwww....

Brad Pitt and the rest of us in Kenya

Yes – this looks like Brad Pitt…because it is Brad Pitt (not Brad Alderson). But, alas, not in real life. We met Zahara's visiting brother and stayed a night in Malindi at an inexpensive but nice place called Breezepoint. They have "dorm-like" rooms with bunkbeds (for which we paid about $10 per person) with a type of common room in which there was a TV that had some type of digital signal. There was a channel that played "action movies", so that night we watched the movie Mr & Mrs Smith. It's a bit predictable (no surprise there), but hey, it's Brad Pitt. In my film world, its not nearly as good (not even close) as the same titled movie which is a 1941 comedy with the great comedienne Carole Lombard (directed oddly enough by Alfred Hitchcock). Now, that Mr & Mrs Smith is a true classic comedy!

Zahara had planned for us to go on Sunday to a place called Mida Creek but because we all just wanted to rest (and take advantage of the showers) we just stayed in Malindi and visited this touristy place that is a Falconry/Snake park. You know how you often don't visit the places closest to you (I still haven't been to Mount Vernon). So, we went off for a short visit which was actually fun and interesting plus it wasn't a really hot day, so it was all good.We saw lots of birds that are "rescued" and are kept here until they can be released into the wild.

Our guide told us a lot about the various birds but of course I can't remember all the information. I did get a picture of me with this one bird because the guide made a big deal about the age of this bird (36) and of course I felt really old then!! Ha!There were also snakes (sorry no pictures) and the obligatory big turtle mzee (old man). I think the turtle was a couple of hundred years old.

We had a good time joking as we strolled along the wooded park. If I were more literary, this would be a much better story, but not so much!!

But, I will end with this beautiful picture of Alli, Zahara, and me! Yes – that is me again with the graying hair. I can also tell that my face is more "full" which means I really should start running!! Just can't seem to get motivated to accomplish that task. Well – there will be time back in the US!

OKAY -- decided to add one more picture (nothing to do with the bird park visit).  This is my Form 4 class (the first one ever for this school!).  This means that they are the first students from this school who will "graduate" (sit for the national exam).  Pray for the best!

 

Blast from the Past

Got this can of Sprite today with "metal ring opener" ....remember these? We were watching out for these in the 70s so as not to cut our feet as we ran around the neighborhood in our hotpants and halter tops. Oh to be nine years old again?!?

Watermelon….so good!

The other day, one of my students dropped by my house and gave me a watermelon!  He said that his guardian told him to bring it to me.  Not exactly sure why…but, it was really good (see picture above!).  I think there will be more in June/July which means I can probably buy them in my marker at that time. 

Not much news to tell.  School is going along as usual.  We have a new principal (the “official” government principal).  She is fine, but will miss the “founding principal” John Mwendar.  He definitely is the one who kept this community school growing in the last four years.  There are now almost 150 students up from about 100 last year.  My main goal now is to help the Form 4 students score as high as possible on the national exam.  The average math score is normally very low across the country (no big surprise there for those of us who have taught mathematics), so in the least I am hoping to at least get them to not fail the test (a grade of E).  The top five students have a chance of scoring fairly well if they continue to work and not give up before October! 

I’ll take more pictures soon (not sure how to define “soon”).  Other than this, pretty much routine days.  Still waiting for electricity – but am used to not having it, so all is good.  Bwana Safiweh (Praise God)!

Girls going to camp

This is me in my house, waiting for girls going to leadership camp.

Peace Corps Worldwide holds camps for girls' empowerment.  The camps are called Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) and are held annually.  This year I nominated four of my students and all are now at Pwani University for a week-long "camp".  They are staying in dorm rooms with lights and running water...which in itself encourages them to want to go to the university.  So, I was waiting in my house and decided to take a snap of me in my cool dotted sundress that I found in Malindi.  HERE ARE THE GIRLS!!!

From left to right:  Alvine, Joyce, Purity, Selina

The picture above is in Malindi as we were on our way to the matatu stage (the "stage" is what we might call the terminal e.g. bus terminal).  They are so excited to go and of course we are all excited for them!  They will be at Pwani University campus for a week, participating in leadership activities and those related to HIV/AIDS awareness.  Should be fantastic!  Here we are on the campus of Pwani University....I'm the one with the graying hair (yikes!)!  

UNRELATED OBAMA comment:
This is totally unrelated to our trip to "camp" but I've been wanting to post this for a long time, so now I will.  Of course, we often get comments here about being from "the land of Obama", or asked things like "How do Americans like having a Luo (kenyan tribe) for president?" and there are many things like Obama pens, Obama shirts, Obama's family pictures, etc... But, this was the best!  I was reading in the newspaper a story about extended longevity of life and how science may now be able to use things like gene therapy to extend life.  The story was especially focused on the extending of the lives of "exceptionally gifted persons" who could be around longer so that society could benefit from the investment of their talents.  [Side comment -- As if the only measure of exceptional life is the "perceived benefit" to the society...which I suppose would leave out most of us who may have positively affected the life of an individual but not necessarily "benefited society"...I digress].  So, you can see where I'm going with this but I know you can't guess or expect this quote from the journalist's story:  "The prospect of Einstein, Issac Newton, or Barack Obama being alive for hundreds of years would make any progressive minded person cringe with excitement." Of course, I chuckled to myself.  Now, whether you love, like, or dislike Obama....is he really on the level of Newton and Einstein who pretty much redefined our understanding of the workings of the universe??  And what about Mozart or Michelangelo?  Or, it could be that I'm just not progressive-minded enough!??  Nice day!

December 2010 Holiday Travel

I know…Christmas is long past, but I’m just getting to typing this blog (I will try to include pictures).  As you may remember, the school year here is year-round with month long breaks in April, August, and December.  So, we ended the term around Thanksgiving.  From December 4 – 11 we were in Nairobi for Peace Corps mid-service medical (we got teeth cleaned, etc…).  Then the fun started!  I came back to my site and went to do some short tuition (tutoring) with my students and then Zahara and Charlie came to stay for two whole days (!) one of which we used to go to “my beach”.  Sorry I didn’t take my camera to the beach.  There was a type of sandbar we could see from shore which seemed pretty far but I saw Charlie walking out there (he was the only one in the water at that point).  Mind you the beach near my site is fairly secluded which makes it wonderful!  Of course, I’m watching as he goes because I just have that habit of being concerned about “what if something happens to him while he’s out there” as if I could actually do something??  (I digress)  I see Charlie makes it to the sandbar and is walking as if he is walking on water (if you’ve seen a sandbar in the ocean you know what I mean) and then I see him, of all things, diving (like you dive into a pool).  After a bit, Charlie comes back and he says something like “You’ve got to come out to this pool that I found in the middle of the ocean” (okay, not his exact words since it was a while ago and I can’t remember).  So, of course, I say let’s go.  So, we walk down the beach and then out to the sand bar and sure enough there was this type of pool of water that was somehow between the sandbar and the shore but still “way out” in the waves.  You could stand on the edge of the sandbar and dive into this pool of water.  Very cool!  No pictures of sandbar.

On to the next leg of the trip.  Zahara leaves early on Saturday to go back to her site and Charlie and I left later that afternoon to stay with James and Kenya (and family) so that we could visit their church on Sunday and then head on to Mombasa on the way to western Kenya.  The stay at James & Kenya’s is always a joy because for me it’s like being “aunt becky” again.  Plus, Charlie is like a kid-magnet so worked out great (picture of Charlie, Abigail, and Lydia).  Of course we stayed for lunch (can’t pass up home cooked american!) and hung around a bit but had to leave to get to mombasa before dark.  On the way we hit a “traffic jam” of sorts and it was much after dark when we finally arrived…but now I know the way to the Lotus hotel (where Peace Corps always puts volunteers) so no worries.  The plan then is to spend the next two days in mombasa so that we can catch the train to nairobi on Tuesday evening.  We are allowed to take the train to travel at night to nairobi (we’re not supposed to travel by bus or other vehicle at night).  So, we are in mombasa trying to figure out if there is anything we can see.  There is a place called Haller Park which is a kind of animal sanctuary.  We decided to check it out on Monday.  It was kind of neat…not really a lot there but saw the big turtle and other animals (you can see pictures on flickr site).  Sorry this is not a great use of pictures here, but I’m no expert on posting the blog and don’t have the resources to spend the time to figure out how to make this easier to include pictures.  Anyway – it was a nice afternoon.   

On our way towards the exit, all of the sudden we see Abigail, Josiah, and Lydia walking towards us then shouting “Mama, it’s Rebecca and Charlie”.  They just happened to also come that day to see the hippo and alligator feeding.  Thus, we stayed longer and hung out with them for the rest of the afternoon….saw the alligator feeding (generally fun to hang out with kids when you’re at a park like that).  The next day we had to find something to do until time to go to the train at about 4pm.  


We heard from Josiah (9 year old) that there was an awesome water park in mombasa.  We put that thought out of our mind until we started to walk around “just looking” and then found the park.   Kenya told us the price was 800 shillings (about $10) but when we got there it had been increased to the holiday price of 1200 shillings.  Seems that most prices here are jacked up during december holiday!  We kept asking ourselves should we or should we not spend the money.  Maybe you can tell on the picture that those are actual waterslides….so, we decided we had to go.  It was definitely worth it to be covered in cool water for a couple of hours!!  So, that was very cool.  We finally go back to pick our luggage from the hotel and then off to the train.  The train is always kind of a neat trip….not luxurious but okay.   The train travels from Mombasa to Nairobi overnight.   

Arrive in Nairobi about 11am.  Our plan was to get into Nairobi and buy tickets to take the night train again from Nairobi to Kisumu (which is where we will meet Staci for Christmas).  Well, we didn’t think that the train would be overloaded….but, it was.  There were no tickets for Kisumu (only third class and the lady at the desk said, “I wouldn’t recommend third class”, and then immediately revised and said, “I mean, don’t take third class”).  We had to find a place to stay in Nairobi.  We had to contact Peace Corps and let them know that we were “stuck” in Nairobi for a night.  We went to this place Upperhill Camp which is like a backpackers place.  You can stay there very cheaply (less than $10) and it is clean, has showers, and good food.  You stay in a dorm-like room sleeping on bunk beds.  We were talking to the taxi driver (not Robert DeNiro) and he said he could take us to the “bus area” the next morning and find us a ride to kisumu.  At this point we were trying to prepare ourselves that we might not get to kisumu but instead have to stay in Nairobi until the christmas rush was over.  Well, we did get a bus the next morning.  Rode all day in a hot bus to get to kisumu.  Staci came later that afternoon (she lives only a few hours from kisumu) and all was good!  Here are some pictures:

(From top to bottom: sizzling brownie at the Laughing Budda restaurant, Staci greeting monkey at the reserve park, car wash (?) in Lake Victoria covered with hyacinth, Becky and her favorite companion)

It was a nice couple of days in Kisumu (one of Kenya’s three cities).  We mostly just walked around and saw the sites (Staci and Charlie had been there before).  We thought we’d go see The Voyage of the Dawntreader (CS Lewis) movie for our “gift” but there was only one movie theater open and it was only playing Harry Potter, which incidentally I forgot to mention I saw in Nairobi (I know that is a shock to some, but it was with a big group of PC volunteers so it is more about the experience of seeing a movie and eating popcorn).  By the way – I also saw “The A-Team” … now that is a cinematic masterpiece (Ha!  It did have Liam Neesom who is always very cool).  On Christmas eve we went to the roof of the hotel where they have a small dining room.  We were there waiting for our order and it started raining very hard and lightning.  We were getting a bit wet but it didn’t make sense to try to leave since we’d get even more wet (we were under a tarp of sorts).  So, we ordered hot tea which was great!  Then, we finally got our food which was I think the best thing I’ve had since being here in Kenya.  It was like a stir-fry.  I got the vegetarian with rice and cashews and it was FANTASTIC!  Really well done.

On to the trip back home….we talked to Danielle (who lives about 2 hours from Kisumu) and decided to go stay a night at her house.  She has a relatively big house, two bedrooms, a living room, and an actual kitchen.  I actually had to sleep with a blanket which never happens on coast!!  We had some good food provided be her neighbor and then watched the movie Love Actually (kind of a christmasy movie) on her computer (she also has electricity!).  So, that was a lot of fun.  She even made french toast the next morning.

Finally – Staci, Charlie, and I are headed back to our sites. Well, Charlie is actually first going back to Nairobi to do some Peace Corps stuff.  So, we all get in the matatu and are waiting as usual for them to actually go.  For some reason this particular tout (the guys who flag you the matatu and take your fare) was really making me annoyed.  It’s pretty normal to sometimes get annoyed when you are always being called “mazungu” (white foreigner), or being asked for money, or you can tell that they are talking about you but you’re not sure all of what they’re saying, etc…. BUT, this guy just seemed extra annoying to me.  I didn’t actually realize how annoyed I was until we were actually on the road and Staci (who is a couple seats behind me) says, “Becky, I think you should just stay an extra night in Nairobi and go have a hamburger with Charlie”.  She said something like, I’ve never seen you so visibly angry.  (Yes – I actually do display a lot of patience and restraint in most cases because it’s just easier to live that way and why should I let someone else spoil my daily living?).  My original plan was to get to Nairobi and take the bus or train direct to mombasa.  Of course, I thanked Staci for being so concerned about me (I must have seemed stressed) and then said, “Yeah, that’s a good idea”.  So, Charlie called Upperhill Camp (again) and got room and we indeed went and had a hamburger and coke (of course!). 

Well – this is about where the story ends..kind of.  I did get my bus ticket that day so I could leave the next morning.  It was still kind of crazy in Nairobi (just like holiday travel anywhere).  I got to Mombasa that night at the Lotus hotel and ran into a couple of other volunteers (Daniel, Jonathan, and Jeff).  They were going out to eat somewhere so I tagged along.  I ate some kind of rice with something (can’t remember what it was) at an Indian restaurant and then had a piece of chocolate cake at this other place.  I know, it’s terrible (and my thighs can prove it!).  Nothing really unusual except that the next morning I felt a little clammy like I was going to be sick.  I tried to eat some toast and then got on my way to go home.  I’m in the matatu leaving Mombasa and feeling a bit queasy.  I thought I might be okay but about 15 minutes or so I had to actually vomit out of the window (luckily I was at the window).  Another volunteer, Mary, lives in this town Mtwapa which is only about 20-25 minutes out of mombasa.  So, I called her quick and asked if I could get off and stay at her house.  Of course she said yes.  So, now I’m getting off in Mtwapa. 

Mary is in the middle in the picture that was taken previously when I returned from medical.  She, Nicole (right), her visiting friend Camille, and I took the train back to Mombasa earlier in December.  So, that was really the last part of my entire holiday.  I ended up staying the night at Mary’s place.  I think I just had a bit of food poisoning but it went away by that night.  I’m sure there is much more I could say, but I think this is the end.  Next holiday I will be in US!  THE END.

A Rain Day!

No snowdays here (maybe on very top of kilimanjaro) but we are having a "rainday" break from school. Not sure if it will go all day? We haven't had rain in a long time - the actual long rains don't begin until march. This is a welcome break from heat! The pic is looking out my front door.

A great box of books from Darien Connecticut!

A group in Darien, Connecticut (Darien Book Aid, bookaid@aol.com) donates small boxes of books to those serving in Peace Corps assignments around the world.  I'm not sure how long they have existed, but all I had to do was to contact this lady, Peggy Minnis, and as soon as they had a set of donated books, they sent to us as a donation!  They did a great job of selecting a range of books; in fact, I will probably read many of them!  Some of the books are:  The Prince and the Pauper, Of Mice and Men, The Red Pony, The Odyssey, Caddie Woodlawn, The Spiderwick books, a couple of dictionaries, Treasure Island, and Pirates of the Carribbean among others.  It was a great box to open!! 
(Top picture: Jamboh, Albert, Dakota,  Middle picture:Joseph, Philip, John, Madame, Jamboh, Bottom picture: Jamboh, Albert, Dakota)

My Lovely Salad

Yet another food blog. I know some of you say that my salad is rabbit food (not "real" food) but try living most of a year without lettuce and cucumbers ... you just might miss them. Well, in the last two weeks Ive been able to get both and added tomatoes, carrots, some olive oil with a bit of sprinkled basil and cashews to make a great meal. Only prob is I have to eat the whole thing because no way to save it. Eating tonight by candlelight and listening to Pavorotti. Life is indeed good at this moment. Moral of story? Enjoy little moments and it adds up to a lifetime of great memories. [Okay, yeah, that was too corny. What do you expect? Im a math teacher, not a poet!] Now if I could get good, fresh strawberries! That's the ticket.

Great Christmas gift

Found this Dr Pepper at the "natural foods" (?) store in Nairobi mall. We learn to not ask why...just enjoy!

Thanksgiving Food

Wow! Thanks to Kenya & James and their five kids for a "real Thanksgiving". Along with PC vol Tameisha, we had turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, etc (see pic of full plate). It was a nice time. We even saw bits of Macy parade over their streaming internet on GMA which was a bit strange since I haven't seen any of those shows in a year. If I had a fridge I could have had yummy leftovers! It was a great blessing.

Trips with Students

In this past term I have gone on a couple of trips with students…nothing really extra exciting, but I thought it might be nice to post some of the pictures. A note – for some reason, several students lately have gotten their own cameras (the "old" kind with 35mm loadable film) so they keep wanting to take pictures with "madame" (I guess for their future reference??).  As usual, you can see more pictures at the flickr site (www.flickr.com/photos/lilnel65)

 Trip # 1 – Form Three Class to Mombasa seminar about "Getting into University"
We left Marereni a little later than planned (not uncommon here in Kenya). As we were leaving town on matatu we passes two of the girls from the class. The matatu stopped to pick them. I was telling the students it was good that I wasn't driving because I wouldn't have stopped. They said, "No, madame, you have to stop". So of course I told them it would be a good lesson about being on time if we left them…I'm trying to be less of a time-conscious American but there are sometimes that it is hard. So – we are riding and of course they keep telling me to turn the music up (just like kids at home!). They really had a good time…many of them had never been to Mombasa. Here is a picture of the whole-group (sort of) when we arrived:

The trip went well except that two of the students left without telling us to go visit one of their cousins who lives in Mombasa. So, we went to lunch and they were nowhere to be found. Then, when we got back to the school (where the seminar was held) they were still not there. Long story…but they finally showed up later. When we got back to Marereni, one of them asked me for their "lunch money" since they had missed lunch. The nerve! I just looked at him and said that he needed to not talk to me right now (I was a bit miffed at their behavior!). All in all it was a good trip.
TRIP # 2 – Watamu Marine Park
I think I may have mentioned before that I am the club patron for the Wildlife (Environment & Conservation) Club. I am no expert in this, but I was available so it is. I arranged with this guy from a conservation group (COBEC) to make a trip to Watamu (a town on the Indian Ocean) not far from Malindi. Well – it took time to arrange and of course students kept waiting and waiting to pay for the trip. I told them that we had to plan it in advance….I couldn't just wake up one Saturday and say, hey, I'm taking 20 students to Watamu today. Before the trip, about Wed, I met with the ones who had paid (about 15-16 students) and told them that it had been arranged. I made sure they knew that we had to rent a matatu and that I would leave them if they didn't show up on time. Well, by Friday we had about 20 now who wanted to pay. Saturday morning – The students showed up on time! I think they began to realize that yes, even though I like them, I would leave them! By this time, we had about 25 people total. The matatu guy said they could all cram in the van (which really holds about 15). I didn't want to do it, but everyone said it was okay. So – off we went with the students crammed into the back of the van. I told my principal that I'd probably lose my job in the US if I took students in that manner. Nonetheless – we arrived and went on a small boat ride into the ocean, saw some fish, some of us swam, and later we went to a snake farm (yikes!). It turned out to be a good trip – the students are largely well-behaved but just act like "normal young people" sometimes doing or saying "silly things". My nephews may find it humorous that the last thing I said to the students as we were leaving the boat was "Everyone should make sure that they get all their stuff…their shoes, etc…before we leave the boat". Yes – I'm still they same Becky – ever trying to make sure things are on track. Of course, later in the day (much later), this guy Hajj comes to me saying, "Madame, I can't find my shoes". Of course, I'm wondering how it took him hours to figure that out??? *smile* Well – there was no way to go back and get his shoes…we weren't even really sure where they were. So – no shoes for Hajj.

Holiday Safari & Peace Corps Workshops

I believe many of you have seen safari pictures posted on the flicker site.  That is the easiest way for me to post many pictures (see the site www.flickr.com/photos/lilnel65).  Here is a brief "story" about the trip:  The safari company we used was recommended by a PC volunteer who had gone on safari previously and all was good.  The PCVs on the trip were myself, Caitlin, Charlie, and Erin(see left....sorry I can't figure out how to make the picture bigger without destroying the clarity... guess I'm not a tekkie??)

We had to meet in Nairobi where the safari guy picks us and drives us to Masai Mara.  We stayed at a kind of backpackers place called Upperhill Camp which was fine (kind of like staying in a dorm).  The vehicle arrived early and included others who were also bound for our same "camp" in Masai Mara.  One of the fringe benefits of traveling here is that you often meet travelers from all over the world.  We were very lucky to get great tripmates in our safari van!  

A couple, Tom and Fabiana who were so funny and engaging (a joy to be around).  Tom is from Holland, Fabiana from Brazil, and they currently live in Italy.  Yes, I've already told Fabiana that I would contact them one day to finally get my trip to Italy!  

The other two passangers were Satya and Joakim.  Satya is in the Indian military currently working with UN in the Congo.  Joakim is from Sweden and works in someway related to Microsoft, but I think he is a budding photojournalist of sorts (if he posts pictures I'll try to get a link to his site which will be more impressive than my photos!).  They were a great bunch!  And of course, my companion PCVs are made of awesome!  

No exciting stories about trip to Masai Mara.  We did have an interesting short conversation with a guy at the cashier of a kind of convenience store at which we bought bottled water.  He asked us where we were from then asked which state in America.  Of course, I said Virginia and he immediately said, "Oh, I'd never want to live there".  That wasn't an expected response so of course we asked "kwa nini?" (why?).  He said, "Because Lorena Bobbitt lives there."  Of course, Erin and I laughed and Caitlin (who is mid 20s) said, "Who is that?". Then he continued to tell us that he'd love to live in Utah because there you can have more than one wife (polygamy is still much practiced in parts of Kenya).  Needless to say, none of us thought we'd be thinking about Lorena Bobbitt on this trip.  If you want to see more pictures you can go to the flickr site that I gave above.  There is also a video of a lion that walked right next to our van...that was pretty cool.

THE REST OF AUGUST -- Well, not much to tell.  We had a PC Workshop at a nice sea lodge in Mombasa (Severin Sea Lodge).  The meetings were okay but most of the volunteers loved the food and hot showers!  I went home after that for a few days (to give my students some work to do) and now I am in Nairobi (first week of September) to help with planning for the next education group that arrives in October.  I've been having lots of computer issues, so I am trying to keep up with posts, etc... but it's hard to do at times.  I'll try to post some more pictures of school and students on the flickr site (maybe this week?).  God bless!

Food (?) find

Something to eat that is near and dear to my heart! Our family calls this siamin noodles - that's what we called it in Hawaii which is my first recollection of them. Most people say you only eat these when you are a "poor college student" but I LIKE them (no surprise to you who always thought my food choices plain and bland). Even with all this gourmet food, I will be glad one day to get a hamburger at Mikes Grill in Blacksburg, artichoke bruschetta at Brickhouse in Petersburg and the best of all Mom's chicken potpie! For now they are simply happy memories.

Thanks to 5th grade class

We didn't get to exchange a lot but I'd like to thank Ms DeMist's class for the notes (and drawing from Aidan ). Many blessings as you move to middle school.

Newest kitchen sink

On my visit to "town" today I got this great idea for a sink (see picture). The pump is usually used for drinking water in a jug but it works great as a faucet. Maybe I am a genius?? NOT!

"Holiday", Training, and Rwanda

So, let me first say that I think I know why God forgives us so easily. When I was on the plane coming back from Rwanda I sat by the window and of course peered out to see the beautiful Rwandan green hills, blue sky, and eventually Lake Victoria as we passes into Kenya. From that view you can only see the beauty of the earth. You can't see the filth, the horrible atrocities that happen everyday, the hatred that seems to continue among people, ...all those things that humans continue to do even sometimes in the name of God. I surmised then that God was very smart in his creation and can see the beauty in us that we sometimes can't see because he has a broad and omniscient view. Even in our darkest hours when we know we haven't acted appropriately, he sees us and still loves and forgives. What an awesome sight!

As most of you know, I am not a prolific writer. Thus, this blog hasn't been updated for a while. It is also hard to use a computer often when you don't have electricity...try it sometime, your computer won't run long. Plus, I thought I'd be able to use it while I was in Rwanda but mistakenly assumed that the power voltage (plug) would be the same, which of course it wasn't, so I couldn't charge my computer once I got there. I suppose I could have used Diana's computer but why should I work so hard when Diana already has a beautiful blog that is by a prolific writer (Dr. Perdue herself!).  Click here to see the events of my trip!

So - this is the short story. The first school term ended at end of March and I had to leave to go to Peace Corps training in Nairobi about the middle of March. So, my plan was to take the first few weeks and do my planning for next term and go buy a bike. But, some of you already know that I came down with a very nasty eye infection right after school ended. It lasted about 7-8 days during which I really couldn't do anything (I couldn't see through all the gunk in my eyes). So, I basically sat around and laid on bed listening to the radio or my MP3 player (thank god for them!). Of course I didn't get my bike and then after I recovered it was just about time to go to Nairobi. Off to Nairobi which was good since our entire Math/Science Ed group would meet again but it's a long trip. First I have to leave my town and ride to Malindi. Then, take hot and crowded matatu for about 2 hours to Mombasa. Then take hot bus about 6 hours to Nairobi. But, my fellow volunteer Zahara and I took it in steps so it wasn't bad. We went to Malindi one day and stayed overnight at Scorpio Villas (the nice hotel that is the getaway place) then the next day went to Mombasa and stayed at the Lotus Hotel (Peace Corps pays for us to stay there because they don't like us to take public transport at night so we can't make it all the way to Nairobi in one day). So, all in all it wasn't too bad. Once in Nairobi we were there for training sessions for about 8 days. The best part was to talk to other volunteers, hear about their stories, and go eat stuff that we usually don't get. For example, the second night, Erin, Charlie, Caitlin and I went to this place called JavaHut (in the Sarit Center Mall). I got a hamburger which was really good! Charlie and I went back another day and I got a chocolate milkshake. Also, a bunch of us one night ended up going to the movies (woo-wee!) to see Shutter Island. Most of us have not been to a movie theatre since leaving the US. It was a good time there in Nairobi. Sorry I don't have more pictures of the stuff I mentioned....I should get better at it! Here are some random pictures of volunteers outside of the training sessions:

After training it was off to Rwanda.  We went on that Monday night to eat dinner at the PC Kenya Country Director's house (a beautiful place).  I brought my luggage with me so I could leave straight from there to fly out of Nairobi at 11pm.  I arrived in Rwanda about midnight and met Diana.  Of course we talked a lot!  It was great to see someone from home!  I didn't get to stay long, but I did get to see most of the beautiful capital city of Kigali.  I think it is the cleanest city I've ever seen!  I kept remarking on it because compared to Kenya it is so clean.  I don't know where they put their trash??  Being there is kind of a strange feeling in a way because one can't help but see the beauty and enjoy the nice restaurants while at the same time knowing that less than two decades ago somehow about 1 million people were killed in just one month's time in and around this very city.  I can imagine that for Rwandans it is still a constant reminder.  Here is where you get to see a real blog!  If you want to see a great description of my trip just go to Diana's blog and read and see her wonderful pictures.  There's a reason she is the "technology person" at her site!

I got back to my site on the Saturday before classes began.  Of course I was dead tired from flying but I did get to fly from Nairobi to Mombasa and again stay at Lotus Hotel.  I paid the extra $50 to fly instead of staying in Nairobi and then taking the long bus ride the next day (well worth the $50).  Since then I've been trying to get back into school rhythm and have been trying to catch a rat that I think was in my room.  But, other than that nothing exciting.  We are getting two new rooms built at our school (yea!) so now our staff room is actually under the roof of the temporary classroom.  We don't have walls yet, but we do now have a roof.  I hope to take more pictures of my students this term and post more to my flickr site sometime within the term.  Here are a couple pics of a few students:

I think that is it for now.  I've been in this cybercafe for an hour trying to get this done and I still don't really know what I'm doing!  Gotta go!  Hope all are well.  Blessings to each of you.